Diving in Siquijor

Siquijor Island... or Isla del Fuego as the Spanish named it, due to the intensity of fire flies..., lies some 22 KM east of Southern Negros. Easily accessed from Negros Oriental's capital city Dumaguete. Legend has it that Siquijor rose from the sea during a tremendous thunder storm... sited as evidence is fossils and shells which can still be found in Mount Bandila-an, Siquijor's highest point. While the coastline is mostly white sand beaches, oceans full of tropical marine life the interior is mountainous and makes wonderfully interesting day trips by motorcycles or jeep.

Located in the Central Visayas Region, Siquijor is a small island in the Mindanao Sea about 30 kilometers southeast of Negros Island, south of Cebu and southeast of Bohol. Siquijor is separated from its neighboring islands by the Cebu Strait in the northwest and the Sulu Sea in the southwest.

Siquijor tourist business is still very much in its infancy - Siquijor Island is not a "tourist trap" - it is a paradise waiting to be explored! Siquijor is full of interesting caves, waterfalls, rivers, rainforests, historic buildings and many, many other interesting sites... - People are friendly and crime remains unknown!

To add to the mystic of Siquijor is the "Mananambals" or faith healers whom mostly reside in the mountain regions. Still today they are actively involved in all sorts of strange healing practices, some of which is said to use white magic. This is especially prominent during Easter time where they come together to mix their strange portions. When traveling in the Philippines one is warned mostly by Filipinos not to travel to Siquijor for fear of the Mambabarang.


Superstitious has it that Siquijor still has so called "witch doctors" capable of inflicting injury or pain by the use of black magic. In reality though this practice died out many years ago.

Dive Resorts on Siquijor can be found all around the Island. In the South are some bigger Resorts while in the north the budget travelers will find their heaven. Many dive-sites around the Island can be dived with a shore entry. The marine life in around Siquijor has everything to offer what makes the Philippine Islands famous. Fantastic coral gardens for snorkeling and diving, critters en masse, fast drift-dives with some “big stuff” and beautiful walls.

Some dive operators include Siquijor Island in their "Island-hopping" - program.

Some divesites around Siquijor Island:

Tubod Sanctuary–Maite Point–Sunken Island-Paliton Wall–Tambisan–Tongo Point